Physics simulation in virtual reality environment
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Παυλιουδάκης, Ιωάννης
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Abstract
The purpose of this diploma thesis is the development of a space simulation
in a virtual reality environment combined with the use of a driving system
and a motion simulator. Virtual reality technology is applied to advance
fields of medicine, engineering, design, education, entertainment and training.
In many cases it can be combined with motion simulation systems,
resulting in applications that can be used for driving and piloting training
without any real world risks. Furthermore, when these applications
concern space travel, users have the opportunity to explore space, observe
planets and celestial structures and see the appliance of complicated theories.
However, for a virtual reality experience to be successful, there are key
elements which need to be taken into consideration. Virtual world, immersion,
interactivity and sensory feedback are those elements and this thesis
aims to develop a simulation which includes each one of them at a high level.
The implementation starts with the virtual environment. The main program
includes a physics system and an animation system. The physics
system includes the spaceship and the asteroids and the animations system
includes every planet, the sun and the outer space sphere. The two systems
do not interact with each other. The implementation starts with the animations
system. We study the orbit of each planet of our planetary system
and depict it by using the first and the second law of Kepler. Problems that
we encountered during the normalization of the planets in terms of size and
distance from the sun, as well as their solution, are also cited. After that, we
present the initialization and setup of the physics system and we analyze
how the asteroids and the spaceship function. Furthermore, an attempt to
visualize Einstein’s theory of special relativity is made. We conclude the
implementation chapter by analyzing the communication of software and
hardware. Lastly, optical results of our work, as well as conclusions and
improvements are reported.
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Keywords
Space simulation, Virtual reality, Immersion, Interactivity, Sensory feedback